Porcelaine

Chien de Franche-Comtné

The Porcelain is a scenthound that was bred to hunt in packs for a wide variety of prey, including deer and hare. Today they are an extremely rare breed, kept almost exclusively by hunters. Their name comes from their white coat, reminiscent of porcelain

History of the Porcelaine

Origin

History

Related Breeds

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France

​1600s

Known since at least the 17th century, the Porcelaine is from the Comptoise district on the France and Switzerland border. It is said to be descended from the extinct Montaimboef and some see it as the modern version of the Chien Blanc du Roi – the King's White Hound. The French Revolution decimated the breed, completely wiping them out in their homeland; however a few specimens survived in Switzerland. The Swiss added laufhunds to the bloodline and it was reintroduced to France in the 19th century. Still a small breeding pool and suffering from inbreeding, the Harrier from England and other French hounds, such as the Billy, were added to complete the reconstruction. This breed was also quite popular in the United States before the Civil War and although the large packs did not survive the modernized world there, the Porcelain contributed to many of the American breeds.